Gantry construction

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to an erecting system for prefabricated multi-story frame buildings, particularly of six story character, where the vertical columns and the floor structures have been properly located in position. The floor structures, as well as the vertical members are desirably formed of hollow columns which are preferably rectangular or square in cross-section but which may take other shapes.

United States Patent Jenner I [4 1 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] GANTRY CONSTRUCTION 2,978,270 4/1961 Verheggen ..294/67.l B

[72] Inventor: Myron Jenner, Bethel, Vt. 05032 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza [22] led: 1969 Assistant Examiner.1ohn Mannix [21] App1.No.: 879,254 Attorney-Karl F. Ross 52 us. c|.-..... ......'.....214/1 n, 214/1 0, 294/67 BC [57] ABSTRACT lllt n E 4: 1 The present disclosure'relates to 'an erecting system Field Search R0, 1 294/67 for prefabricated multi-story frame buildings, particularly of six story character, where the vertical columns [56] Rdmnm CM and the floor structures have been properly located in UNITED STATES PATENTS position. The floor structures, as well as the vertical members are desirably formed of hollow columns Daniels H X are preferably rgctangular or square in cross- 2,7 l Nell section may take other Shapes 2,858,031 10/1958 Garmon ..2l4/1 H 9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDA B 1 9 3.680.716

sum 2 OF 5 R m Mwm M I mmn, 11 x Y h 1M n w m M mw W i. IHM U WWM M fi m mm kw mm mm mm w QMQ MN mm W QN Qw mm vw V Q w 5 ATTORNEY PATENTEmus 1 I972 3.680.716

sumaurs INYEXTOR. 5 29 3/ 52 33 MYRON JENNER ATTORNEY PATENTEU 1 I972 3.680.716

/03 MYRONHJENNER q I q GANTRY CONSTRUCTION These hollow columns may receive various utilities, particularly electrical conduits, and where in use for this purpose they may also be insulated by a plastic foam formed preferably in situ. These columnar constructions, desirably of six story character, are assembled at a factory with any added structure which may be conveniently placed therein apart from the point of erection and then are trucked or otherwise transported to the erection site.

At the erection site these elongated vertical building units are moved onto a gantry forming the principal feature of the present-invention by means of a roller system which can be subsequently withdrawn and then are clamped in position at each floor as well as at the top of the columns onto a gantry.

The gantry, together with the prefabricated building frame is then elevated by means of a crane or derrick having a plurality of cables, desirably two in number, over the point of erection which has been fixed by means of positioning of shoes or receptacles in the ground at proper level and proper spacing. The comer receptacles may receive one of the hollow column legs, whereas the other intervening outside wall members receive two of the legs or feet of the multi-story frame construction. Interior shoes or receptacles are received for each of these shoes or legs for the multi-story frame construction receiving four legs.

The gantry is desirably provided with retractable and extensible pivot members cooperating with plates which may be mounted upon the ground and give the proper location to each multi-story element as successively erected to form the complete building construction which may contain as many of these multi-story units as desired. When the gantry has elevated the multi-story unit to correct position to be receivedin the shoes, it then may be lowered by retraction of the pivot ball members on the base plate, with the legs fitting into the foundation shoes or receptacles. Then the gantry.

multi-story may be withdrawn and another prefabricated unit can then be installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an erection system for multi-story units which have been pre-assembled or prefabricated at a central point of manufacture.

Although in the preferred form these multi-story units have six stories, it is obvious that a different number of stories may be provided. Preferably, the multi-story unit consists of a six story unit having four side hollow columns with the base structure of the floors assembled thereon and with side or interior walls, plumbing and other utilities, and with electrical wiring installed thereon.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple readily manipulated economical erection system for prefabricated multi-story building structures which will enable erection at a variety of sites or locations at low cost, with minimum labor and in compliance with maximum safety regulations.

Another object is to provide an erection system for prefabricated multi-story building structures which will assure ready placement and location of prefabricated multi-story building structures transported by truck or other convenient means from a point of manufacture to a place of erection with a' minimum of labor and at low cost. 4

A still further object is to provide a-novel gantry con struction which will serve as an intermediate device for receiving the prefabricated multi-story building element from the vehicle which has transported it from the place of assembly and which will then readily mount such structures in predetermined position and relation to one another to form a complete composite buildingconstruction.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope andspirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention a gantry construction is provided for erection of the prefabricated multi-story units. This gantry will receive the prefabricated structure from a truck or other means of transportation by which it has been transported from a factory assemblage location to the erection location where the prefabricated units are to be erected.

The gantry desirably consists of four long columns having intervening transverse and diagonal support members welded or otherwise attached to the four long members to form a base structure. Then this base structure is provided with a'reciprocatory device carrying a series of rollers preferably one per story which upon being moved in one direction will be projected upwardly so that they can contact the columns of the multi-story structure as it is being moved from the truck or the transport means onto the gantry.

These roller members may extend from side to side or may be localized at the sides and they are desirably provided with openings in the side members of the gantry so that they can project a'short distance out of the face of the gantry to carry andv receive the prefabricated building structure unit. In the preferred form, the rollers are pivotally mounted on short lengths and are moved upwardly. into the path of the pre-assembled module when it is moved from the truck to the gantry or lowered when it is to be clamped in position.

These roller units may all be controlled by a longitudinally extending member which is attached to the support for the rollers and is hydraulically actuated in either a projecting direction or reversely in a withdrawal direction. Desirably the gantry will be so positioned in respect to the truck that there will be an inclination downwardly toward the head of the gantry and away from the truck to make the movement of the prefabricated module more readily possible.

At the same time as the rollers are being withdrawn and lowered, permitting the module to rest directly upon the gantry, this reverse movement will actuate aseries of swinging clamps or hooks normally held within the gantry structure which are now swung upwardly and outwardly to grasp the transverse members of each floor of the building module, preferably closely adjacent the side columns thereof.

At the same time the top ends or roof ends of the outer longitudinal column members of the building modules will be grasped at the top of the gantry. The top of the gantry normally has an over-extending cantilever portion which will extend over the top of the building module and is provided with an insert which ends within the upper end of the hollow columns which form the four side and corner members of the pre-assembled building module, which can be actuated by means of a hydraulic cylinder or other suitable means into the top end of the building module column.

When this is accomplished and the building module column is in its uppermost position within or on the gantry, another arrangement may be actuated, also desirably having a hydraulic cylinder to grasp the sides of the upper ends of the building module columns and hold them firmly in position in the gantry construction.

The over-hanging or over-extending portion of the gantry is provided with twin cable connections, one on each side, to a crane or derrick, which will serve to elevate the entire unit including the gantry and the building module and lower it into position into the shoes which have been previously provided on the ground at points where the erection will take place.

The lower end of the gantry is provided with a hydraulicly operated swinging door member or plate to support the outer part of the building module upon the gantry as it is elevated and it is also provided with projecting and retractable locating elements, the ends of which are curved, and provided with balls to serve as pivot members. This swinging door member is moved in position by hydraulic cylinder or other suitable means.

When the building module has been moved to its uppermost position,.then the door may be moved into position under the lowermost cross-member so as to hold the outer columns of the structure firmly-in position upon the gantry, together with the top clamps and the intermediate cross-member clamps, one for each floor.

In proper location of the truck in respect to the gantry, when the transfer has taken place of the building module, a plate is provided upon the ground having recesses for the truck wheels or tires at the discharge end of the truck and also for the pivot locating means of the gantry. These pivot locating means are extended to their full length and fit against or in sockets in the cationplate. When these pivot members are fully extended by hydraulic or other means from the lower end of the gantry, they extend beyond the lower legs of the building module and also serve as a means'or pivot to permit elevation of the combined gantry and building module by the derrick.

The combination of gantry and module, when removed from the truck to gantry erection plate, permits the entire unit to swing upwardly with the protion to be inserted into the shoes.

enough to receive two columns side by side of two preassembled building modules. lntermediately they receive four and therefore have an internal dimension slightly larger than twice the dimensions of the lower end of the building module column in each direction.

To aid in location of the lower ends of the building modules upon their erection into position, an alignment plate may be provided, which hastwo projecting elements which may be solid or hollow, of the same dimensions as'the lower end of the building module columns, which will fit in the shoes so that the module to be erected will be correctly guided into proper posi- These erection plates also have socketsto receive the lower ends of the extended ball members, which will align the unit building module in position while stillon the gantry. r As soon'as the building module has been lowered into position, the lower ends of the legsare lowered into the shoes or receptacles by withdrawal of the pivot ball members which may be retracted by means of hydraulic cylinders, with the retraction continuing until the lower ends of the legs of the module are finally in position in the shoes which will hold one, two or four lower leg ends of the erected module.

Then the top clamps are removed and the lower plate is partly removed and the gantry is moved sidewardly jected ball units pivoting in recesses in the plate until it reaches vertical position and is elevated from the plate. The shoes or ground receptacles which have been previously placed in position usually consist of a concrete or other suitable base structure which will hold two plates in position substantially below the ground, said two plates being fixed in the concrete base by means of L-shaped bolts with locking nuts thereon.

These L-shaped bolts hold the receptacle or shoes into which the lower ends of the legs or columns of the building module are inserted. At the corners these receptacles or shoes receive one leg and are therefore just slightly larger in internal dimension than the lower end of the column of the module. Along the sides between the comers they are rectangular and-wide after the side clamps have been removed away from the building module unit, which is now in position. This can be repeated again and again until the entire building is finally erected and the gantry can be moved off to some other site.

To summarize, the' gantry, which is the essential element of the present invention, consists of the frame structure with the supporting side rollers for the building module, with a top overhanging structure having parallel eyes to connect to the derrick or crane. The upper end of the gantry at its side forward corners will also be provided with clamping'means and insertion means to be inserted into andto clampthe top ends of the outsidecolumns of the building module.

Within the gantry will be the retractable and projectable roller means for permitting rolling of the building module from the truck onto the gantry. I

The interior will then also be provided with the clamping means, one for each floor, which will clamp the cross floor members close to the vertical columns. The lower end of the gantry will be provided with the swinging plate or door to support the lower end of the building module and particularly contact the cross members away from the gantry and at the same time be provided with projecting or retractable ball pivot members. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in-the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the discharge end of the truck, as well as the six story building module in position on the gantry, with the top ends of the outside legs being clamped adjacent the upper end of the overhanging part of the gantry and both the gantry and module in horizontal position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view upon the same scale as FIG. 1 again showing the discharge end of the truck, the building module clamped in position at its upper end by the overhanging portion of the gantry, and the gantry in horizontal position, as is also the building module.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top elevational view of the alignment bed plate which permits the end of the truck to be in line with the gantry during movement of the module from the truck to the gantry, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 2 and upon the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse fragmentary vertical sectional view upon an enlarged scale of the clamping and alignment means at the overhanging part of the top of the gantry position in respect to the upper end of the building module leg, upon the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and upon an enlarge scale as compared to FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse fragmentary vertical section-a1 view of the clamping and alignment of the top of the module leg, taken upon the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a transverse fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken upon the line 6-6 of FIG. 1, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1, showing the bottom door to support the building module and also showing the extensible and retractable. ball pivot members and their actuator in the lower end of the gantry. v

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken upon the line 77 of FIG. 1, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1, showing the position of the rollers and clamps with the rollers extended and the clamps withdrawn.

FIG. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 7, and upon the same scale as FIG. 7, showing the rollers retracted and the clamps in clamping position in respect to the transverse members of each floor of the building module.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken upon the line 9-9 of FIG. 7, showing the rollers in position to support the building module as it is moved off the truck onto the gantry.

FIG. 10 is a transverse fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 9 showing the position after the building module has been .entirely removed from. the truck and positioned upon the gantry and transverse members at each floor of the building module which clamp against the gantry.

FIG. 1 l is a diagrammatic small scale side view showing the crane elevating the combination of the building module and gantry from the erection bed plate to a vertical position.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic small scale view similar to FIG. 11, showing the combination of the building module and the gantry elevated off the erection bed plate and about to be lowered into the shoes, with the alignment plate in position.

FIG. 14 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the line 14-14 of FIG. 13 and upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 13, showing the lower end of a leg of the building module in position on a shoe.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the assembled building modules forming part of a building structure with additional erection taking place at the right and withan alignment plate in position.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ground is indicated at A, adjacent to or at the erection site. The erection bed plate B has been placed upon the ground to provide a convenient locationing means for the truck C and gantry D. The gantry D is shown as having received the building module E from the truck C. The overhanging portion F of the gantry is provided with extensions to a derrick or crane, two parallel arrangements being provided, so that the gantry can be lifted at both sides simultaneously.

The upper ends H of the top vertical columns J are held or clamped by the mechanism K shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5 and in small scale in FIGS. 1 and 2. The lower end of the gantry D is provided with retractable or extensible pivot members L, or balls,shown in small scale in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in large scale in FIG. 6. The lower or bottom end of the gantry D is also provided with the swinging door or plate M designed to support the lower end of the module E when it is elevated. (See FIGS. 2 and 6). I

The interior of the gantry is provided with the retractable and extensible roller members N shown in extended position in FIGS. 7 and 9 and in retracted position in FIG. 8. The interior of the gantry D is also provided with the latch or holder member P, which is withdrawn in FIG. 7 and extended and clamping the module E in FIGS. 8 and 10. The ground receivers, receptors or shoes are shown in small scale at Q in FIG. ISand enlarged scale in FIG. .14. The erection or alignment plate or building module erecting plate is shown at R in FIG. 15.

The derrick S is shown'as lifting the gantry D and erecting the module E by the arrangement G in FIGS. 11 to 13. The upper clamping arrangement K is provided with an interior T to fit into the open upper ends of the columns J and with the side clamps U for clamping the outsides of the upper ends of the vertical members J of the building module. The building module has the vertical legs J on the transverse legs V, the trans verse legs being positioned at each floor and there desirably being six floors.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the truck C having the rear wheels 20 and the bed 21 carrying the angle irons 22 is rolled up upon the erection bed plate shown in cross-section in FIG. 2 and in top plan view in FIG. 3. The bed plate B has a flat lower face 23, resting horizontally on the ground on which it may be lowered by means of an appropriate leveling device and it has the inlet side 24 for the truck C and the outlet side 25 for the gantry D.

The plate has the recesses 26 in which the wheels or tires 20 of the truck are positioned and it then has an elevated portion 27 which separates the inlet side 24 from the outlet side 25. This elevated transverse ridge has recesses at 28 to stop the rearmost tire 20 and it also has recesses 29 to act as pivotsupports for the pivotal ball members L.

These pivotal ball members L have a forward ball 30 which fits into the recesses 29. These balls are carried by the piston rods 31 extending from the hydraulic cylinders 32 which rest in the recesses 33 in the erection bed plate B. The bed of the truck 21 with the angle 22 desirably carries the modular building unit having the four vertical hollow rectangular or square cross-sectional legs J and six transverse floor support membersV in case of a six story module.

With a difierent number of floors or a lesser number of floors, the legs J may be shorter and the number of cross-members V may be decreased. The hollow steel columns J may be of 8 inches on each side with a wall thickness of three-eighths of an inch, and they may be spaced from each other from center to center by about 11 feet, 4 inches. The spacing between cross-beams V may be 8 feet, 6 inches and generally beyond the end cross-beams 34 at the bottom and 35 at the top the vertical columns will project, as indicated at 36 and 37 in FIG. 2. There will generally be six floors, although a 41 are on each side, as are the cross-members 40. The

vertical members 38 and 39 extend upwardly as indicated at 42 and 43 to support the overhang F having the horizontal members 44 and 45 and the short member 46 at the top of the gantry, with the oblique reenforcing connecting member 47. (See FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, these oblique members 47 are also connected by thecross-members 48. The gantry at the junction point 49 carries the eyelets 50 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) which receive the lower ends 51 of the parallel cables 52, which lead to the crane as shown in FIGS. 11

Referring to FIG. 2, the building module J is moved from the truck bed and from between the vertical members of the angle rails 22 onto the L-shaped rails which are attached to or welded to the vertical members 39 of the gantry. Thisis accomplished by means of the rollers which are shown extended in FIGS. 7 and 9 and retracted in FIG. 8.

. These rollers N extend across the gantry and across the building module E and they are carried by means of the bracket 66 which has the end upstanding portion 67 receiving the pivots 68. The angle rails 65 are cut away at 69 to receive these rollers N when they are projected as shown in FIG. 7. The bracket 66 at its bottom face rests upon the camming wedge 70, which is carried on the block or plate member 71 between a lower and upper cross-member 72 and 73 of the gantry.

The roller member N itself may be elevated by means of this ridge upon movement from the position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 7. The piston rod 74 is connected to the cross-member 75 which has an upstanding slotted area 76, such slot being indicated at 77. The pin 78 which rides in said slot 77 forms a pivot connection 79 to the depending ears 80 from the bracket member 66.

When the piston rod 74 actuated by the hydraulic cylinder 81 is moved to the right as shown at 82, this will force the bracket 66 across the wedge and to the right and elevate the rollers N into the spaces 69 in the side rails 65 which receive the building module E.

It will be noted that when the vertical columns J are on the rollers N as indicated in FIG. 9 there will be a space 83 (see FIG. 7) by which the vertical column J is elevated above the angle rails 65 when the module E has been pressed home to its final position as shown in FIG. 2 in the direction 82, the rollers N will then be drawn downwardly by movement of the piston rod 74 in the direction 84, with the lowering of the columns J onto the angle member 65, as shown in FIGS. sand 10.

As the piston rod 74 is drawn rearwardly or downwardly in the direction 84, the clamping or hook elements P will be thrown upwardly from their position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 to clamp the transverse members V adjacent the vertical legs J. These pivotally mounted swinging clamping elements P have an enlarged overhanging upper clamping portion which is carried at the head of a stem 96. This stem has an angular lower portionwhich is pivotally mounted at Mon ears 98, which project downwardly from alternate cross-members 40 of the gantry, shown best in FIG. 8.

The swinging clamping members V have a tail portion 99, which is slotted at 100. The slotted portion of the of the tail 99 receives the pin 101 carried by the clevis 102. This clevis 102 has a base portion 103 consisting of a bar which extends transversely. This bar is mounted upon the piston rod 74, and when the piston rod 74 moves in the direction 84 it willswingup-the clamps from the inactive position shown in FIG. 7 up to and engaging the cross-members V of the module E.

This takes place after the rollers N are withdrawn to the position of FIG. 8 from the position of FIG. 7.

. In addition to the clamping at each cross-member V by the clamp P after the'module E has been moved into the position shown on the gantry D as shown in FIG. 2, the upper ends H of the legs J of the module E are clamped and held in position by means of thearrangement shown in FIG. 4. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the insert member T has its outer faces substantially closely in contact with the interior faces 111 of the upper ends H of the legs J of the module'E, while there is a slight space indicated at 112 in FIG. 5 between the interior faces 1 13 of the upper ends H and the sides 114 of the insert element T. This elementT has a beveled or reduced dimension lower end portion 115 to enable it to be more readily inserted into the upper ends H of the column J. I v

The upper ends H of the column J may slightly flare also to receive the insert element T. This insert element is inserted by means of the piston 116, driven by the hydraulic cylinder 117, which is carried by the upper overhanging portion F of the gantry D. e

The clamping members U extend the-full length of the insert member T and they are provided with interior clamping faces 118, which may be abraded or of a softer material, so as to firmly clamp the upper end H hang F.

The lever extensions 123 in FIG. 4 are pivotally connected at 124 to the pistons 125 of the hydraulic pistons 125 of the hydraulic cylinder 126 which has the connections 127 to enablethe clamping portionsl 18 to be closed upon the upper end H of the columnsJ of themoduleE. i.

In respect to the lower end of the gantry, there is provided the pivotal ball element L (see FIG. 6) which is retracted or extended on the piston rod 31 which is driven by the hydraulic cylinder 32 which fits into the recesses 32 in the erection bed plate B. This ball 30 may be extended by the hydraulic cylinder 32 by the piston rod 3lto permit the pivotal member L to extend beyond the lower ends of the legs J of the building module E.

The cylinder 32 rests in the recess 33 when the module E is in horizontal position on the gantry as shown in FIG. 2. This ball element 30, together with the cylinder 32, is positioned on the lower or outer face of beyond the lower ends of the legs or side columns of the building module E.

The balls 30 will form a pivot point and may be exv tended so that'they will be beyond the lower ends of the the lower end of the gantry D. This structure acts to fix the position of the module E upon erection.

At the same time the swinging door or plate M, as shown in FIG. 6, will be moved to the position shown in FIG. 6 through the pivot mount 140. Beyond the pivot mount 140 the door has a clevis portion 141 which is pivotally connected at 142 to the piston rod 143 which is actuated by the hydraulic cylinder 144. The hydraulic cylinder 144 has a pivotal connection at 145 on one of the members 146 of the gantry D.

After the building module E has been moved to the final position shown in FIG. 2 on the gantry D, this door M will be closed by the hydraulic cylinder 144 and the piston rod 143 so that the contact face 147 as shown in FIG. 6 will contact the lower face or lower side 148 of the transverse floor member V.

This will hold the lower end of the module as it is being transferred to the building site and as it is being erected. It may be withdrawn after the erection has taken place by slightly lowering the member M from the cross-members V.

The erection system is best shown in FIGS. 11 tol5. The shoes or receptors O, which are sufficiently wide to receive one lower end of the column J of the module E at the corners, and two lower ends along the sides between the corners and four lower ends intermediately of the sides of the building structure, as shown in FIG. 15, mounted upon a thick plate 155. This plate 155 is mounted on top of a thin leveling shim plate 156, which in turn is mounted upon the concrete base 157 having the bottom outstanding portions 158.

The receptor element 159 itself is desirably level with the ground face 160 on which the building is to be erected, and all of these receptors 159 are desirably at the same level so that all of the building modules E may be mounted on a plane which will determine the building height. Y.

The angle bolts 161 which are embedded in the concrete 157 will have inturned end portions 162 and they extend upwardly above the top plate 155, as indicated at 163. The top plates 155 are held, in position by means of the bottom nut 164 and the top lock nuts 165. The pockets or receptors 155 themselves are welded or otherwise fixed in position, as indicated at 166.

In the erection as indicated in FIG. 11 the crane S through the cables 52 will first lift the gantry D together with the building module E. The balls 30 will form a pivot point and may be extended so that they will be legs orxside columns of the building module E. The block or beam 167, as shown in FIGS. 2 and l 1, is positioned so that the gantry will slope downwardly toward the overhang F and enable readier movement from the truck C to the gantry D. As shown FIG. 12, the crane S will finally lift off the gantry, together with the accompanying building module E over to above the shoes or receptors Q, where the module E is to be lowered into position. The module will be placed directly above its erection position by means of the building module erection alignment plateR, as shown in FIG. 15, with the balls fitting into the recesses 168.(See FIG. 15).

This plate R has an intermediate ridge 169 on which is the lifting ring170, permitting engagement by the crane and movement of the plate R from position to position. In the position shown, there are downwardly projecting pins or elements 171, which fit into the receptors 172 and 173, the open portions of which are to receive the lower leg extensions of the next building module to be inserted.

The building module will then be lowered into the spaces 174 after the balls 30 have been positioned in the recesses 168 and the erection of an additional building module willv have been effected. Then the ball will be withdrawn, permitting the legs to move to the the bottom 175 of the receptors and their erection operation for the next building module will take place.

As shown in FIG. 15, there are a number of modules E already erected, 19 in number, and additional modules will be erected until the erection has been completed. The electrical utilities are particularly provided for in the hollow opening of the vertical columns of the building modules E. The outer columns J of each building module can be filled with an insulating foam, as may also occur in connection with the outer crossmembers V of the building modules.

It is thus apparent that the invention has provided a simple erection system which isparticularly suited for prefabricated building modules and which enables rapid erection of prefabricated building components at a predetermined site.

The gantry is basically a torsional-free and bendproof structure which will not twist or subject the module to any torsional or bending moment.

The purpose of the outer column restraining clamping arrangement K, together with the bottom supporting door M, is to restrain the two opposing or outer columns from those positioned against the gantry D from putting any moment of force upon the module E upon erection. The purpose of the pads 147 on the door M is to have all restraining faces applied as close to outer columns J as possible.

The truck-to-gantry aligning plate B aligns the truck wheels 20 so that they will be in alignment and the angle iron tracks 22 on the truck C will be aligned with the tracks 65 on the inside face of the gantry D. The height alignment is governed by the height of the rear of the truck and the height of the lower end of the gantry D, both of which will be controlled by the plate s s y I :exit endotthe plate B al ys be at such an e'levationthatthe proper verticalalignment takes place and the exit side 25 of the plate B be of such height in to the outlet .side 24 as to assure that the tracks 22 ofthetruck C will slightly higher than thet'racks 6,5 ofthe' gantry D (for example an one-eighth l-re iant wtryD with me Q 89 the E QQhVcnie'ntly lg d n h j pivotal ballmember'sfLhaving the pivot'ball's30 retractedjand extended'by the hydraulic cylinders 32 pivotjthe whole Dupon raising it from ground to vertical positionto prevent vertical legs of the module E being bent or distorted'during the lilting stage,

ball pivots-arelused intthe extended position 9'. 58 s iis m s with i ttb the, thick to}v pate and alsoitol'align the P a R-"n- I Byclampingthebuildingmodulelitothe gantryD'at each floor by members P in FIG.- 8 and restraining the outer columns by the clamping means K inFlG. 4 and the door'supportin FIG. 6, this will assure that there will he never more than one floor weight load supported'by the module itself. The module E is therefore not supporting any substantial weight during erection.

' lar cross-section and belev'eledinplaoernentintheshoesQ,

. mentpiae ne o e s "is 10W ha g; f h module E into the'fouridation shoesor receptorsQ.

Where's previous will reduce the weight of' the steel to make the module 1 torsion-free during 7 a hollow colummarede'sirably by rolling a metal about three-eighths inch thick into the reetanguwelding contacting edges at.

a As many changes could be'made in the above'gantry construction, and many widely different embodiments of this invention couldbe madewithout departure from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as-illustrativeand'notina'limitingsense; I

ere'eiienierfme. n asqjs emmed e E will be n see pleed eme e ia y 1 one'rnodul '5, "will, release the modulebyjslightly r s iigihqfmsm1st d o p ns, h embers'lP at 'eachfloor level V of the module-E "gifully. the top clamp of I t sf-l of its'transverse members 40 andthe members 41, will be a torsion-free and bend-resistant platforrn toraccept a building module E uwhiehlwill' be erected by the without bending or l zime'achrnodule. Th g up pfm-mbbd les 7 'ms s m have concrete cast therein at each level or floor and the gantry D will prevent any twist which would affect the V 5 2. An erection system for erecting multi-story buildstrjength of the concrete floors.

concrete floors will prevent any twist as if r The truckjCImayhave the same retractible jectable rollers N and clamps P a the gantry 0.

4 The erection aligning plate R- may also have meansto it from the outside of the receptors or rhoes' Q, particularlyat the end erection. UB

. last-mentioned locating means may embrace or intowhi h last modal: is I d ftt FIG, (before I n position at an erection site",'said gantry consisting of an 1 or craneS may beprovidedwith only I one-cable s2 butjspreterably provided with two ca- 'bles. In case the gantry D would have only one eye Sllfft'Dr receiving'the Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner thesame istobeperformed, whatisclaimedisz 1. An erectionsystem for erecting multi-sto'ry building modules,' each including 'a'pluralityofielongated corner columns with intennedia'te flooring structures,

said-system including an erection gantry'receivingthe in ho f mn al position; moving'said module to erection position'andpla'cing said module'in vertical elongated structure. having main longitudinal columns ateachof the four corners of Ihe'gantry, transverse crossmembers extendingperpendicu l'arly betweenand transverse totthe' main longitudinal ,"columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main "longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an overhanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection meansat the top of said head and means to hold-the module at the; head,v bottom'an'd the'length of "the gantry, respective ball legs extendingfromtwo of said columns and aligning means'provided with sockets receiving said legs for positioning said gantry upon the ing modules, each including a plurality 'of elongated cables or supports were positioned with tensens: each floor level. concrete floors steel and mesh reenforced.

corner columns with intermediate flooring structures, 7

a said system including an erection receiving the module in horizontal position from a truck andother means of transportation, moving said module 'to Y erection position and placing said module in vertical at an erection site, said gantry'consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four corners of the gantry, transverse crossemembers extending perpendicularly between and transverse to the longitudinal columns and"; diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and, the main longitudinal extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection means at the top of said head andmeans to hold the columns, the top of said gantry having an overhanging gantry, said module having hollow columns and said means to hold the module at the head of the gantry consisting of clamps to clamp the corner columns on their upper ends, said head of said gantry being provided with means to be inserted into the upper ends of the corner columns of said module.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a gantry-and-module aligning plate, said gantry being provided with means at its lower endco-operating with said gantry-and-module aligning plate and adapted to align the legs of the module in proper position to the position of the previously erected module.

4. The system of claim 2, said gantry having rails along the sides thereof adjacent the module and roller means projected when the module is moved into position upon the gantry and retracted after said positioning has been completed.

5. The system of claim 2, said last mentioned means including a plurality of swinging clamps actuated to clamp the flooring structures on each level to the gantry during erection.

6. An erection system for erecting multi-story building modules, each including a plurality of elongated corner columns with intermediate flooring structures, said system including an erection gantry receiving the module in horizontal position from a truck and other means of transportation, moving said module to erection position and placing said module in vertical position at an erection site, said gantry consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four comers of the gantry, transverse cross-members extending perpendicularly between and transverse to the main longitudinal columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an over-hanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection means at the top of said head and means to hold the module at the head, bottom and along the length of the gantry, said gantry being provided with erection alignment plates and retractable and projectable pivotal mounting members to cooperate with said alignment plates and permitting the gantry to be correctly positioned in respect to the truck and in respect to the erection position.

7. The system of claim 6, receptor members located in the site for receiving the lower ends of the corner columns of the module.

8. An erection system for erecting multi-story building modules, each including a plurality of elongated comer columns with intermediate flooring structures, said system including an erection gantry receiving the module in horizontal position from a truck and other means of transportation, moving said module to erection position and placing said module in vertical position at an erection site, said gantry consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four comers of the gantry, transverse cross-members extending perpendicularly between and transverse to the main longitudinal columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an overhanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection ttht fsaidh d dmeant hldth $33 e at th e 13% bottom nd a long the le gtl? of ms gantry, the lower end of said gantry being provided with a swinging door to clamp the bottom end of the outer side of said bulding module.

9. An erection system for erecting multi-story build- 4 ing modules, each including a plurality of elongated corner columns with intermediate flooring structures, said system including an erection gantry receiving the module in horizontal position from a truck and other means of transportation, moving said module to erection position and placing said module in vertical position at an erection site, said gantry consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four corners of the gantry, transverse cross-members extending perpendicularly between and transverse to the main longitudinal columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an overhanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection means at the top of said head and means to hold the module at the head, bottom and along the length of the gantry, the lower end of said gantry being provided with a truck-to-gantry alignment plate which will align the truck wheels and thereby the guide rails on the top of the truck with the corresponding guide rails on the side of the gantry adjacent the module. 

1. An erection system for erecting multi-story building modules, each including a plurality of elongated corner columns with intermediate flooring structures, said system including an erection gantry receiving the module in horizontal position, moving said module to erection position and placing said module in vertical position at an erection site, said gantry consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four corners of the gantry, transverse cross-members extending perpendicularly between and transverse to the main longitudinal columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an overhanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection means at the top of said head and means to hold the module at the head, bottom and the length of the gantry, reSpective ball legs extending from two of said columns and aligning means provided with sockets receiving said legs for positioning said gantry upon the ground.
 2. An erection system for erecting multi-story building modules, each including a plurality of elongated corner columns with intermediate flooring structures, said system including an erection gantry receiving the module in horizontal position from a truck and other means of transportation, moving said module to erection position and placing said module in vertical position at an erection site, said gantry consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four corners of the gantry, transverse cross-members extending perpendicularly between and transverse to the main longitudinal columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an overhanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection means at the top of said head and means to hold the module at the head, bottom and along the length of the gantry, said module having hollow columns and said means to hold the module at the head of the gantry consisting of clamps to clamp the corner columns on their upper ends, said head of said gantry being provided with means to be inserted into the upper ends of the corner columns of said module.
 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a gantry-and-module aligning plate, said gantry being provided with means at its lower end co-operating with said gantry-and-module aligning plate and adapted to align the legs of the module in proper position to the position of the previously erected module.
 4. The system of claim 2, said gantry having rails along the sides thereof adjacent the module and roller means projected when the module is moved into position upon the gantry and retracted after said positioning has been completed.
 5. The system of claim 2, said last mentioned means including a plurality of swinging clamps actuated to clamp the flooring structures on each level to the gantry during erection.
 6. An erection system for erecting multi-story building modules, each including a plurality of elongated corner columns with intermediate flooring structures, said system including an erection gantry receiving the module in horizontal position from a truck and other means of transportation, moving said module to erection position and placing said module in vertical position at an erection site, said gantry consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four corners of the gantry, transverse cross-members extending perpendicularly between and transverse to the main longitudinal columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an over-hanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection means at the top of said head and means to hold the module at the head, bottom and along the length of the gantry, said gantry being provided with erection alignment plates and retractable and projectable pivotal mounting members to cooperate with said alignment plates and permitting the gantry to be correctly positioned in respect to the truck and in respect to the erection position.
 7. The system of claim 6, receptor members located in the site for receiving the lower ends of the corner columns of the module.
 8. An erection system for erecting multi-story building modules, each including a plurality of elongated corner columns with intermediate flooring structures, said system including an erection gantry receiving the module in horizontal position from a truck and other means of transportation, moving said module to erection position and placing said module in vertical position at an erection site, said gantry consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four corners of the gantry, transverse cross-members extending perpendiculaRly between and transverse to the main longitudinal columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an overhanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection means at the top of said head and means to hold the module at the head, bottom and along the length of the gantry, the lower end of said gantry being provided with a swinging door to clamp the bottom end of the outer side of said bulding module.
 9. An erection system for erecting multi-story building modules, each including a plurality of elongated corner columns with intermediate flooring structures, said system including an erection gantry receiving the module in horizontal position from a truck and other means of transportation, moving said module to erection position and placing said module in vertical position at an erection site, said gantry consisting of an elongated structure having main longitudinal columns at each of the four corners of the gantry, transverse cross-members extending perpendicularly between and transverse to the main longitudinal columns and diagonally crossing reinforcing members between the transverse members and the main longitudinal columns, the top of said gantry having an overhanging extended cantilever head, derrick cable connection means at the top of said head and means to hold the module at the head, bottom and along the length of the gantry, the lower end of said gantry being provided with a truck-to-gantry alignment plate which will align the truck wheels and thereby the guide rails on the top of the truck with the corresponding guide rails on the side of the gantry adjacent the module. 